E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PINR NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: RESIGNATIONS FROM THE MNJ POLITICAL CELL;
NEW GROUP FORMED

REF: 07 NIAMEY 904

1. (U) A May 28 posting on the MNJ web site signed by Chehna
ag Hamate announced Hamate's resignation from the MNJ
political cell. On May 30 another posting said that the
political cell had met the day before and accepted the
resignation of Chehna Hamate and Kaocen Seydou Maiga. The
new political cell is comprised of:

2. (U) When the MNJ was established in July 2007, Aghali
Alambo was listed as President of the Political Bureau, and
Mohamed Acheriff as the Vice President. Last July 15
(reftel), the MNJ announced the composition of the political
bureau as:

3. (SBU) Comment: The political cell/bureau does not appear
to have any role in MNJ military actions. It is presumably
focused on fund raising and otherwise developing support with
both Nigeriens in the diaspora and foreign groups. (Issouf
ag Maha has given talks in support of the MNJ in the United
States.) Thus, the shake-up is unlikely to have any
near-term effect on military activities, which are sporadic
anyway, but it may reduce financial and other support to the
organization.

4. (U) On May 30, a new website appeared
(redressement.unblog.fr) announcing the formation of the
"Front des Forces de Redressement" (FFR). The group is
comprised of:

5. (U) Kriska was a senior member of the Front de Liberation
de Tamoust (FLT) during the rebellion of the early 1990s.
(The head of the FLT, Mohamed Akotey, is currently the GON
environment minister.)

6. (U) Rhissa Ag Boula was the head of the leading group in
the 1990s rebellion, the Front de Liberation de L'Air et de
l'Azawak (FLAA). He served as GON tourism minister after the
rebellion, but was later jailed for his alleged involvement
in the murder of a politician in 2004. He has been out of
Niger (reportedly in Libya, France and/or Algeria) since the
current rebellion began in February 2007. He has criticized
the government and expressed support for the MNJ, but the MNJ
has disavowed any connections with him.

7. (U) MNJ defectors Hamate and Maiga have joined the new
group. FFR Commissar for relations with the Americas
Kambessikone had previously served as the MNJ contact in New
York.

8. (SBU) Comment: A fracturing of the rebel movement is
consistent with splits within the Tuareg community. During

NIAMEY 00000572 002 OF 002

the rebellion of the early 1990s, there were 13 Tuareg
groups, as well as two Toubou ones.

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